Authored Publications

Is there a north-south divide political divide? A major study into public attitudes – Northern Lights – examines the new political and social geography of England. The research finds that the way people vote is less and less determined by their social class, and more by how they think the government is performing and their attitudes to controversial issues like migration and crime.

Tackling the Causes of Poverty is Policy Exchange's response to the government's child poverty consultation. It recommends replacing the current, income-based, measures of poverty with new, wider, measures that reflect the multi-dimensional and complex causes of poverty for both adults and children.

Just Deserts? examines public attitudes towards fairness, poverty and welfare reform. What do we think “fairness” is? Extensive new research finds British voters believe that fairness is about getting what you deserve, not about equality.

At a Rate of Knots argues that we can make much more of the river Thames for very little cost, producing a new, integrated and expanded service which will offer a great new option for many of London’s commuters. The river is a core part of London’s identity yet it is cut off from its transport network. This report sets out how to correct this.

Edited Publications

Is there a north-south divide political divide? A major study into public attitudes – Northern Lights – examines the new political and social geography of England. The research finds that the way people vote is less and less determined by their social class, and more by how they think the government is performing and their attitudes to controversial issues like migration and crime.

At a Rate of Knots argues that we can make much more of the river Thames for very little cost, producing a new, integrated and expanded service which will offer a great new option for many of London’s commuters. The river is a core part of London’s identity yet it is cut off from its transport network. This report sets out how to correct this.

Related Events

This seminar will explore the implications of the Chancellor’s announcement in the 2011 Autumn Statement that he was asking the Pay Review Bodies to consider ‘...how public sector pay can be made more responsive to local labour markets.’

This ‘emergency’ debate will bring together a range of experts to consider whether default is a realistic option, and what the consequences will be of the difficult choices that European leaders are now grappling with.

While a great deal of political and policy attention focuses on SMEs, very little attention has been focused specifically on mid-sized business. This is despite there being around 10,000 mid-sized (between £25m and £500m turnover) businesses in the UK and these businesses accounting for around a fifth of total employment and turnover in the UK.

This event will examine four main public policy areas and the challenges facing the Coalition Government and the Labour Party: crime and justice, foreign policy, the state of the economy and public service reform

Public budgets remain under huge pressure at a time when ministers are keen to encourage Big Society initiatives in everything from social care to the arts. But the flow of private money to charities is still more of a trickle than a flood. Following on from the Giving White Paper (May 2011) and the Philanthropy Review published June 2011, this event will explore in great depth how to reach the goal of substantially increasing giving in the UK by exploring the important themes going forward in this policy area.

Ed Miliband finds himself at a crossroads both in defining his Party’s identity and presenting a clear set of policies. His first major policy speech, in June, focused on personal responsibility. He pledged to end the "take what you can culture", from the boardroom to the benefits system, and called for the establishment of the contributory system that rewarded those who had worked all their lives.

For fifty years we've aimed relentlessly at higher incomes. But despite being much wealthier, are we any happier? Experts disagree. At the same time we've seen an increase in wider social issues, including a worrying rise in anxiety and depression in young people.

Related News

Writing in The Daily Telegraph about UKIP’s plans to target Labour seats in the north, James Kirkup refers to Policy Exchange's 2012 Northern Lights report, which highlighted how the Conservative Party have a problem attracting voters in northern cities (holding just 16% of northern urban seats), rather than the north as a whole, with 71% of the broadly rural seats in the north and midlands being held by the Conservatives.

Writing in The Times, Ed Conway – Economics Editor of Sky News – refers to Policy Exchange polling from 2011 which showed that only one in seven people understood the difference between the deficit (what the government borrows each year) and the national debt (the cumulative total of all those deficits). Ed argues that this is a reflection of the deep problem with mainstream economics: that it has become “too much about flows and too little about stocks”, and that by focusing purely on the rate at which things change, we often miss the broader story.

The Times names Policy Exchange Director Dean Godson as the 53rd most influential person on the right in British politics. Former Policy Exchange Director and current Osborne aide Neil O'Brien is also named on the list in 57th place.

Writing in The Financial Times, Janan Ganesh cites findings from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights, in a piece exploring ways to tackle the North-South divide. The article also cites former Policy Exchange Director Neil O’Brien’s work on encouraging economic growth in the North, including introducing successful academy chains to improve education and skills.

The recent appointment of Neil O'Brien, Director of Policy Exchange, as a Special Adviser to George Osborne, is cited by The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. The article notes Neil's recent work on why the Conservative party needs to do more to appeal to Northern voters.

The Daily Telegraph's Ed Conway references the recent appointment of Policy Exchange's Director, Neil O'Brien, as a Special Adviser to George Osborne, noting that one of Neil's main areas of interest is tackling the North/South divide.

Writing for The Information Daily, Vicky Sargent notes the appointment of Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's Director, as a Special Adviser to George Osborne. The article cites Neil's recent cover piece for The Spectator on why politicians have failed to close the North/South gap.

The Financial Times reports on the appointment of Neil O'Brien, Director of Policy Exchange, to be a Special Adviser to George Osborne. The article also cites Neil's recent cover piece in The Spectator on the failure to close the North/South divide.

The Daily Mail notes the appointment of Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien, as a new Special Adviser to George Osborne, quoting comments from his recent cover piece for The Spectator on the North/South divide.

The Guardian's Nick Watt argues that the recent appointment of Neil O'Brien, Director at Policy Exchange, as a Special Adviser to George Osborne is sending a clear message to the Conservatives that they need to reach out to more voters in the North and in urban areas, citing Neil's previous work on this issue.

The Daily Telegraph's Chris Hope covers Policy Exchange's Director Neil O'Brien's appointment as a Special Adviser to George Osborne, citing Neil's repeated calls for the Conservatives to do more to appeal to urban voters in the North.

ConservativeHome's Tim Montgomerie writes praising Chancellor George Osborne's hiring of Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien's, citing Neil's Northern background and the focus of his previous work as being beneficial to help the country out of its current problems.

In an piece discussing Policy Exchange's Director Neil O'Brien's appointment as a Special Adviser to George Osborne, The Spectator cites Policy Exchange report Northern Lights as one of the most important pieces of work on the challenges facing the Conservative party.

In an article on the recent appointment of Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien to become a Special Adviser to George Osborne, The New Statesman cites Neil as "one of the most innovative conservative thinkers of his generation."

Policy Exchange's Director Neil O'Brien's blog on thinking big to achieve smaller government is cited in a ConservativeHome article discussing how George Osborne should address spending cuts in the upcoming spending review.

BBC News cites Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's Director, speaking about the benefits of sharing government data online as set out in Policy Exchange report The Big Data Opportunity. The report shows the public sector could save between £16 billion and £33 billion annually by analysing and sharing data.

Ethos Journal cites comments from Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien in an article on ways to improve economic outcomes in the UK. Neil argues that we should spend less on welfare and more on education to tackle the roots of poverty.

Writing in The Financial Times, Dennis MacShane MP cites findings from recent Guardian article by Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien urging the Conservative Party to do more to appeal to voters in the North.

Writing in The Guardian, Frank Field MP cites comments from Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien's recent article in The Guardian urging the Prime Minister to adopt Blue Collar modernisation to appeal to more voters in the Midlands and the North of England. Frank suggests that Labour should take note of this method in the South.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on Newsnight arguing that the Conservatives need to figure out how to expand on the popular support their policies on crime and welfare have with policies that will appeal to and help those on low incomes.

Writing in The Times, Tim Montgomerie argues that Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien could become a future Cabinet Minister in his vision of what the government could look like in 2020. Former PXer Jesse Norman also obtains a Cabinet post.

The Daily Telegraph cites Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien discussing the need to implement renewal in the Coservative Party to win votes in the North. Neil argues that David Cameron needs to adopt Blue Collar modernisation to attract more voters from urban areas.

The Guardian cites Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien's comments from an article he wrote for the paper urging the Conservative Party to do more to appeal to voters in the Midlands and the North. Neil argues that the Tory Party must try and shake off its reputation as the party of the rich.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on BBC Radio 4's Today Programme to discuss Bigger and Quieter: The right answer for aviation. Neil argues that proposals will see a reduction in noise pollution to levels under that currently around Heathrow, while allowing expansion of the airport westward to accommodate 4 runways.

ConservativeHome's Tim Montgomerie cites Policy Exchange's report Northern Lights, which argues that Conservatives must appeal to voters in the North if they are to win a majority in the elections. The report shows that Northerners do support key Tory values on crime, immigration, tax and human rights.

The Economist cites findings from Policy Exchange's report Northern Lights which show that Conservatives need to focus on voters in the North and the Midlands if they are to secure a win in the elections.

Policy Exchange's Director Neil O'Brien is quoted in The Times as part of a spread looking at which policies could deliver growth over the next few years. Neil sets out ideas on house building, local infrastructure investment and a stable tax environment.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on Newsnight setting out options for the government on how to help ease the cost of living for the public. Neil singles out environmental policy as an area where savings can be made for consumers and also advocates smarter use of current public spending.

Ending Expensive Social Tenancies, Policy Exchange's latest report which advocates selling expensive council homes and reinvesting the proceeds in new social homes, is covered in Newsnight's opening package and is debated by the Green party's Jenny Jones and Conservative London councillor Harry Phibbs.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on BBC Radio 4's Today programme alongside Karen Buck MP to discuss the recommendation from new report Ending Expensive Social Tenancies that expensive social housing should be sold to fund greater numbers of affordable social housing.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on the Today programme discussing the impact of the Olympic Games. He posits that it may have a lasting impact on the British people's belief in our ability to pull off big projects and how it may affect future levels of voluntarism.

The Guardian's Northerner blog cites the finding from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights that a majority of people in the North are unethusiastic about HS2. Director Neil O'Brien is quoted pointing out that this is understandable, as the first tranche of construction on HS2 will only go between London and Birmingham - failing to benefit those in the North at all.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien takes part in a discussion on BBC Radio 5 Live on Michael Gove's proposals to replace GCSEs with O Levels and CSEs. He argues that the reforms make sense, with the current system forcing children to take an academic education where they may respond better to a more vocational education.

ConservativeHome cites Policy Exchange's lasting opposition to the current format of the Child Poverty Target - starting with 2009 report Poverty of Ambition - and our calls for a more intelligent, qualitative, approach to tackling child poverty.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien discusses social mobility on Radio 4's Today Programme. He argues that British society is more mobile than it is given credit for, and that politicians need to be clear on what they are trying to achieve with social mobility.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien discusses social mobility with Hazel Blears on BBC Radio Five Live. He argues that the most important barrier to social mobility is differences in education, even before children have reached school.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien talks to The Spectator's James Forsyth on their podcast The View from 22 about our report Northern Lights. Neil highlights the problems for the Conservatives in the urban North and Labour in the rural South and the increasing divide between the public and politicians.

Telegraph columnist Robert Colvile refers to the finding from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights that there is increasingly an anti-politics attitude among voters, to the extent that voters refuse to believe politicians have kept their promises even when they have demonstrably done so.

Spectator Editor Fraser Nelson blogs on Policy Exchange's new report on the public's political and policy views - Northern Lights - highlighting the 10 findings he considers to be the most important. He cites Director Neil O'Brien's observation that Tories do so badly in cities that only two Tory MPs have premiership football teams in their constituency.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears to the Today programme to discuss the findings of latest report Northern Lights. Neil reveals that the main concern by far for British citizens is the cost of living and that their perceptions of their local area are most affected by the local unemployment rate.

The Independent covers Policy Exchange's latest report Northern Lights, highlighting the finding that the cost of living is by far the most pressing concern to voters. Director Neil O'Brien is quoted pointing out that neither of the two main political parties are successfully appealing to ordinary people.

The Yorkshire Post references findings from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights that the cost of living is the main concern of voters, rather than whatever the latest issue is in the Westminster bubble. Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien is quoted stressing the need to address these issues and pointing out that the main political parties are singularly failing to appeal to ordinary working people.

The Northern Echo cites a range of findings from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights on where Labour and the Conservatives are strongest around the country along with a comparison of Northern-Southern policy views. Director Neil O'Brien is quoted highlighting the fact that the Tories don't have a problem in the North in general so much as they have a problem in Northern cities specifically.

The Sunday Express cites polling figures from Policy Exchange report Northern Lights which show a growing disconnect between politicians and the public. They quote Director Neil O'Brien revealing the report's findings that voters want more female, minority and working class MPs and MPs not drawn from the political class.

The Financial Times quotes Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien predicting that private companies are going to have a much greater role in delivering public services by 2015, to the extent that it will be "less about private versus public but about how best to manage different sorts of markets in public services".

Ahead of his discussion at Policy Exchange on 'The New Few', Ferdinand Mount writes in The Evening Standard on the growing gulf between the very rich and the rest of society. He cites Neil O'Brien's Spectator article in which he highlights how London's political class live a world apart from deprived areas of the country.

ConservativeHome's Tim Montgomerie quotes Neil O'Brien's FT piece calling for more special advisers in Downing Street to help detect and prevent political disasters and help ministers get a grip on their departments.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien is interviewed on The Daily Politics backing the government’s decision to re-assess people claiming Disability Living Allowance, arguing that a whole industry had sprung up to advise people how to fraudulently claim meaning that those most in need of support were not receiving enough help.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien discusses the topic of his cover story in The Spectator - the growing financial, cultural and political gulf between London and the rest of the country - in The Spectator's first ever podcast.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on Newsnight discussing the issue of reassessing people claiming incapacity benefit, stressing the mental health benefits of not being stuck on incapacity benefit dependency and the fact that money saved goes toward the most needy claimants.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien debates the levying of VAT on hot pies on Channel 4 News. Neil argues that the charge helps bring consistency to the VAT system and that the real argument over 'pastygate' is about the cost of living.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appeared on the Today programme to debate the Child Poverty Target, making the case from Tackling the Causes of Poverty that we need to focus on the causes of poverty, rather than just income.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on Channel 4 News highlighting how slower economic growth has created a politics that ‘pinches at both ends of the spectrum’ – people wish to see the rich pay more, and are angry at those claiming benefit who could otherwise work.

The Guardian highlights Policy Exchange's 10th birthday, calling us the most influential thinktank in Britain, and citing our past successes as well as our future policy plans such as ending national pay bargaining and moving child poverty measures to a 'causes of poverty' target.

The Independent on Sunday claims that recommendations from Policy Exchange's report Cities for Growth for implementing a more flexible planning system and allowing local people to have more of a say in planning decisions are being considered by the Treasury. Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien is also quoted pressing for an increase in the provision of affordable housing to improve growth of the UK's economy.

Neil O'Brien appears on Woman's Hour discussing the rising costs of childcare and argues that although government regulations have focused on improving quality they have also restricted parents choices of cheaper childcare.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien appears on Newsnight ahead of the release of our latest report Social Enterprise Schools highlighting the urgency of creating new school places and advocating the use of schools run as social enterprises as a way of doing so.

In the New Statesman Director of Policy Exchange Neil O'Brien is quoted from his Total Politics Interview, specifically his identification of voters in the north and midlands as crucial to the outcome of the next general election.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien debates with YouGov President Peter Kellner on the Today programme how radical the provisions of the Health and Social Care Bill actually are, pointing out that many of the changes have been taking place already over the last two decades.

Following on from his blog on the same subject, Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien is interviewed alongside the IPPR's Matt Cavanagh by the Today programme on how well immigrants are integrating into British life.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien is interviewed for Total Politics. Neil cites the findings from our report Just Deserts? on the public's conception of fairness and shows how relevant recommendations from Making Housing Affordable are to this view.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien takes part in a debate on the Today Programme on unemployment in the UK, making the case from report Personalised Welfare for more specifically tailored job-search support for jobseekers.

In an interview with Civil Service Live Network Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien gives his views on a wide range of areas in need of reform, from public sector IT usage to hiring practices in the civil service.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien features on The Today Programme to argue that the case from latest report Bringing Rights Back Home that the government should consider withdrawing Britain from the European Court of Human Rights.

Related Blogs

Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's Director, discusses the failure to close the North/South divide, arguing that both Westminster politicians and Northern council leaders fail to understand the nature of the problems the North faces. He makes recommendations which would help boost the Northern economy, including welcoming successful academy chains, local pay bargaining and planning reform.

Neil O'Brien, Director at Policy Exchange, shows how faded memories have meant that Margaret Thatcher's modernising moves, such as trying to appeal to minority, female and naturally anti-Tory voters, have been forgotten.

Policy Exchange's Director, Neil O'Brien, argues that the government's announcement to include additional factors to the child poverty target reflects a recommendation set out in 2011 Policy Exchange report Tackling the Causes of Poverty, which suggested replacing the income-based child poverty target with a set of multi-dimensional causal indicators, including unemployment and education.

Neil O'Brien, Director of Policy Exchange, argues that the North's economy needs a radical new approach to catch up with the South. Neil shows how previous Policy Exchange research on local pay bargaining and planning reform could attract private sector investment and jobs.

Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's Director, argues against the import of US election style leader debates in Britain. Having given in to the presidential debate format for the 2010 elections, the UK should not continue the practice in 2015, he argues.

Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's Director, discusses the dramatic increase in mental illness in Britain, arguing that it is one of the biggest challenges facing the welfare state, and one which is only now starting to be explored.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien argues that the Prime Minister must ignore calls from some of his backbenchers to lurch to the right and instead focus on building a narrative that focuses on Blue Collar modernisation. He says that the Tories must start appealing to low income earners and ethnic minority voters.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien argues that the challenge facing the Tories is to find their own version of Blairism. Neil suggests that the Conservatives need to do more to win over voters in the North and in the Midlands, and argues that the Tories need to show they are not just a party for the rich.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien argues that the government needs to adopt a fresh approach to the housing problem, stressing that stringent planning regulations are preventing empty offices and buildings being converted into residential properties.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien examines the concept of 'predistribution' and how it could be implemented in the real world. Neil suggests that tying predistribution to housing would be an effective start in helping the poor.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien writes advocating recommendations from new report Ending Expensive Social Tenancies that expensive social housing should be sold and the proceeds used to build more social housing.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien draws six lessons from the Olympic Games, including that Britain actually can successfully conduct big projects, should focus on 'victory through specialisation' and embrace elitism and meritocracy.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien looks at the problems facing Yorkshire and gives examples on how it could improve itself to counteract the gravitational pull of London on graduates and industry. Suggestions include growing Leeds using lessons from Manchester, luring the best academy school chains, reforming the planning system and changing national pay bargaining to a more local level.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien calls for reform of the planning system to boost the economy. He argues that reforms suggested in report Cities for Growth and More Homes: Fewer Empty Buildings would create a more flexible planning system, reduce the cost of housing, and provide a huge boost to the economy.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien examines whether there is a 'couple penalty' in the benefits system. He argues that the different situations of couples involved and the different assumptions made by people on how much living as a couple or as two single people costs. He argues that the perverse incentives offered to couples by the social housing system - which are explored in report Making Housing Affordable - are a bigger problem.

Neil O'Brien, Policy Exchange's Director, endorses increasing the number of special advisers in order for the government to manage the civil service better. He also notes that the Conservatives' “blue-collar modernisation” is faltering and makes various suggestions from previous Policy Exchange reports for helping the 'Strivers'.

Following the announcement in the Budget that the government will allow the creation of more Garden Cities (as recommended in Policy Exchange report Cities for Growth), Director Neil O'Brien writes outlining the advantages of such Cities, and calls for the Chancellor to make radical reforms to the wider planning system.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien sets out 12 big things the government can do to reduce public expenditure by helping growth, making government more efficient and reducing dependency on the state. He draws on recommendations from a plethora of Policy Exchange reports.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien provides a series of proposals for saving money and boosting economic growth, including proposals from several Policy Exchange reports such as reintroducing conditionality into welfare (No Rights Without Responsibility) and renewing the 'right to buy' programme (Making Housing Affordable).

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien writes in his Telegraph blog making the case set out in Making Housing Affordable that individual planning decisions should be voted on by the people they directly affect and developers should be allowed to offer incentives for people to vote for new developments.

Policy Exchange Director Neil O'Brien comments in his Telegraph blog on figures released by the IMF which predict that government spending levels in the United States will surpass those of both Britain and Germany.

Related Press Release

Neil O’Brien has been appointed Special Adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. O’Brien will remain at Policy Exchange to hand over to his successor, but will step down from front line duties as Director of Policy Exchange with immediate effect. David Skelton will become Acting Director while the think tank looks for a replacement for O’Brien.